Well said

In that case some 18's from a new Landcruiser would look pretty cool too (with stock size Landcruiser tires, I think 275/70/18?)

Don't forget the stereo upgrade as well

 

Highlander wheel wells are SMALL. Stock land cruiser tires will never fit. No amount of SANE coil spacer is gonna fit anything on a highlander. My mom has an RX300 and to be honest, after looking under it I would be afraid to put 31's on it...even for street use. Besides that, with the AWD, they are pretty much dogs and bigger tires would make them worse.

 

Just remember, it it basically a Camry, can the tranmission handle the bigger tires? Why kill the gas milage? No offense, but it is not like the Highlander can go off road.

 

Highlander upgrade=4Runner

 

the 04 Limited's come with 17's and 225/65-17 tires. Not too small if you ask me (29" - same as 3rd Gen SR5's). Get the better GUNMETAL wheels and some 245/65-17 AT's and some 1/2" to 1" lift spacers. That's going from a 28.51 to a 29.54. Only one inch difference and I don't think it'd be enough to slow it down that much.

 

Ok, ok, ok... now I've got her on a 4Runner idea... used, but still an 01 or newer... but she wants TWO WHEEL DRIVE!!! ARRRGH!!!

J

 

If you get a 99 or newer and get a limited 4wd, then you'll have the choice of 2wd, AWD with an open center diff to use it on the road, in additon to the 4HI and 4LOW. This way, you get the mileage of a 2wd, the traction of an AWD when needed, the offroad capability of a 4wd and the resale value of a 4WD. It's only about a 0.5 ot 1.0 MPG difference and the resale percentage is much better for a 4WD.

 

Well if she's not going to go off road it makes more sense for her to lose the weight and the price of 4wd. No offense.

 

If she has her mind set on the HL, then I'd give it a rally-look (rockcrawling-look would not be believable, obviously) because of the low ground clearance. First, replace the mudguards with some long, colored mud flaps. Second, get a new set of white or bronze rims (or keep the stock alloys) and mounted on any snow tires, which gives an somewhat affect of "mud tires". Third, mount some oversized driving lamps on the front bumpers. And finally (optional), put some window deflectors and a windshield band. That's it! Simple but effective.

 

If you are going to get the Highlander(Camry), then just do exterior mods, like rims (18's, if it were me 20's), tint, lighting upgrades (tail lights, fogs). Also, interior mods like in-dash tv, tv's in the headrest. See if you can fit a camry supercarger into that engine, the engine is the same as the camry. Look into headers, exhaust and intake. If you can do all of the engine upgrades, you might be looking at close to 300hp. Pretty cool for an AWD camry, which I happen to like. If you get a 4Runner, well, you know what to do and what can be done. If not, just look at the threads.

 

she definetly needs to get a 4runner, that way we can get her intoxicated one night and put some spring spacers in without her knowing, then upgrade the tires to some 32s or something

 

you definately need to wait and get the highlander hybrid

 

I agree Praufet.

 

Why? For cool factor? To pay an extra $10 just to say you have one? It's been proven that they don't get ANYWHERE near the advertised gas mileage (for any hybrid including the hondas). That technology has a long way to go before it will be worth the costs.

 

If it gets anywhere near the range it claims (600+ miles per tank) it's definitely worth it because it has the efficiency (with rising gas prices it is important) without sacrificing power (270hp). Granted, it's not as efficient as other hybrids, however, it has three times as much horsepower and is just as, if not more, efficient than a 4 cylinder. Can't argue with that.

 

most of the reason people don't get the epa mileage is because of varying road conditions, gas quality and driving style, but like havic said, if it gets anywhere near 600 and has 270 hp I'm sold. Also seats 7.

 

I would probably get the new Highlander hybrid, but I wouldn't get rid of my 4Runner.

 

Unless you plan on keeping the Highlander for more than 5 or 6 years, don't waste your money on the Hybrid. If you don't keep it for at least this long, you're losing more money than if you bought the regular Highlander. The difference in fuel cost does not offset the difference in price of the vehicle for quite an amount of time. Plus, a new Highlander is getting around 30 mpg's right now as it is, at least my cousin's new v6 is.

 

i think Highlander use same engine as Camry, Solara, Lexus ES300, and Avalon V6. You might be able to fit a supercharger there.

 

Imagine, mid to high 300+hp supercharged, and 40+mpg. Even you guys that like trucks for off-roading have to like that idea.